Raskin takes early lead over Ruben in Dist. 20

Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2006

Jamie Raskin held an early lead over longtime State Sen. Ida G. Ruben Tuesday night in the Democratic primary for District 20. A Raskin victory would end Ruben’s 31-year stint as a member of the Maryland General Assembly, 19 of those in the Senate.

With just more than 1,500 votes recorded as of midnight, p.m., Raskin led Ruben, 976-538, and at 11:45 p.m., he claimed victory in front of about 250 exuberant Raskin supporters at the Mayorga Coffee Factory on Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring.

‘‘I’m overwhelmed and humbled,” Raskin said. ‘‘Outside of certain private things, this has been the greatest experience of my life.”

In the District 20 House race, incumbent Sheila E. Hixson and newcomers Tom Hucker and Heather R. Mizeur were leading the race for the top three spots that will go on to the general election in November to face Republican John W. Wrightson.

With 3,948 votes recorded as of midnight, Hixson had 790 votes, Mizeur had 780, and Hucker 697. However, the race was too close to call. Aaron Klein was in the fourth spot with 655 votes.

District 20 includes Silver Spring and Takoma Park.

The campaign for Senate captured most of the attention in District 20, with Ruben and Raskin at odds over statements and mailings, each accusing the other of negative campaigning.

Ruben, 77, of Silver Spring touted her experience in the legislature and her ability to gain state money for local projects. Meanwhile, Raskin, 43, an American University law professor from Takoma Park, said his candidacy would offer voters a change from what he called Ruben’s ineffective leadership. He said unlike Ruben, he would accept no campaign money from corporations.

Hixson, a Silver Spring resident, is the chair of the powerful House Ways and Means committee and is considered one of the county’s most influential delegates.

Silver Spring resident Hucker, well-known for his lobbying efforts in Annapolis for Progressive Maryland and labor and health issues, has said his connections with lawmakers would help him as a freshman delegate.

Takoma Park resident Mizeur, a former adviser to U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) who also directed Kerry’s presidential campaign in Maryland, gained experience in local government as a member of the Takoma Park City Council.

Klein, 29, of Silver Spring is a graduate of Montgomery Blair High School and former chief economist for retiring U.S. Sen. Paul S. Sarbanes (D). He raised more money than the other candidates in the District 20 delegate race and emphasized his local ties to the community.

Incumbent Gareth Murray of Silver Spring trailed behind the other candidates

In District 18, with only 17,757 votes counted just before midnight Tuesday, Del. Jane E. Lawton of Chevy Chase was ahead in the Democratic House of Delegates race with 3,596 votes.

Del. Ana Sol Gutierrez of Chevy Chase (2,813) and challengers Daniel E. Farrington (2,659) of Chevy Chase and Jeff Waldstreicher of Kensington (2,643) were running second, third and fourth.

Eight Democratic candidates were vying for one of three open seats in the District, which represents portions of Silver Spring, Chevy Chase, Bethesda, Kensington and Wheaton.

Democratic winners will face Republican challengers Richard A. Fenati, Joan Pleiman and Lorri D. Simmons, all of Kensington, in November.

Del. Richard A. Madaleno of Kensington ran unopposed for the Senate seat in the district. He will face David Stegmaier of Kensington in the general election.

With 6,511 votes cast in the District 19 Democratic race, political newcomer Michael G. ‘‘Mike” Lenett of Silver Spring had more than double the votes of delegates Carol S. Petzold and Adrienne A. Mandel in a race to capture the Senate seat vacated by Leonard H. Teitelbaum.

Staff Writer Fred Lewis contributed to this report.